Document n9pgZ06nZ4GGZpz0xNgQoxveR

JUSTICE NEWS DepartmentofJustics Offs of Public Airs: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday,December15,2016 Public and Environmentot Benefit from $50 Million Proposed Settlemefnotr Natural Resources Harmed by Virginia Dupont Facility Offcals Announce Largest Natural Resource Damage Settlement in Virginia's History. "The Departmentsof Justice andth Interiorjoined with the Commonwealth of Virginia foday to announce a proposed settlement with DuPont valued at approximately $50 millon to resolve claims stemming rom the release of mercury rom the former E.. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) facity in Waynesboro, Virginia. Over 100 miles of tive and associated floodplain have been contaminated by mercury in the South River and South Fork Shenandoah River watershed. In addin ta cash payment ofust ver $42 millon, DuPont wil fund the design and implementation of significant renovations at the Front Royal Fish Hatchery, estimated to cost upto $10 millon. The setement tems are outined in a proposed consent decree fle in federal cout In Harisonburg, Virginia, oday: DuPont will provideth funds t goverment natural resource trustees, who wil oversee the implementation of projects compensating the pubflorithce natural esource Injuries and associated losses in ecological and recreational services, such as fishing access. The trustees, trough U.S. Fish and Wife Service and CommonwealthofVirgina, invite feedback on actions to Testoro the river and wife habitat and improve public ands and recreational resources. A draft restoration pan and environmental assessment (RP/EA) was also released today for a 45-day public comment period. The plan results from stakeholder meetings beginning n 2008 to determine how best to compensate the pubic or the injured natural resources and ther uses. "Ths remarkable settioment will hel restore the precious natura resources of the South Fork Shenandosh watershed, fobrritnhgeinJgulsatsitciengDbeepnaerfittmsefnotr'fuEtnuvriergoennmeernattiaonnds NofatVuirraglinRieanssoutroceenjsoyD,i"vissaoind.Ass"iTshitsanotnAtttaocrtnoeny wGietnhetrhael DJeophanrtC.meCnrtuodfetnhe Interior and the CommonwealthofVirginia i yet anothertestament othe value and effeciveness of cooperative federalism in action and | am grateful o all of our partners for the efforts that brought us to this resolution" p"aTrotdnaeyr'ss astetbtoltehmetnhte,stthaetelaarngedsfteodfairtsaklilnodviln sViarigdinGioavheismtoorry,TiasmtyheMccuAlumilnfa.tio"nTohfanakcsotoordtiheniartehdaredffworrtkb,yVciorugnitnliaensss and he environment wil benef from unprecedented invesiments in land conservation and habit restoration. | applaud and apprecite the metlculous monitoring byour state agencies, the thorough analysisofthe scentfc advisory committe, and DuPont willngness to come {othe able and make this happen." `Since 2005, DuPont and the trustees have worked cooperativelyto assess and identify potential restorationprojectsto `benefit natural resources affected by mercury releases from the DuPont facility. Over 100 miles of river and thousands nofataucrraelsroefsofulrocodepslaiinnclaundde rfiispha,rimaingrhaatbiotraytswoenrgebiirmdp,acrtepetdilfers,omamtphheimbeiracnusrya.ndSmoammemoaflst.he aRsecsreesasteidonaanldfiismhpiangcted `opportunities were also impacted from the mercury. Ex3h6i3b7it 3637.0001 "Years of input from community leaders, and partnership with the CommonwealthofVirginia, hava led us {0 propose over $50 millon worthofrestoration tha wil be at no cost o taxpayers," said Northeast Regional Director Wendi Weber ofthe U.S. Fish and Wide Service. "Fish, wii, land and waters, as well a the cfyofWaynesboro and ther communities affected by decades of mercury release, wil beneft from natural resource projects improving water and `stream quality, protecting and restoring wildife habitat and increasing river access for recreation." "Clean lr, water and and are environmental priorities and economic assels that make Virginia a great place (ove, woorprkoatencdt rtahiesseeaafsasmeitlsyf,o"rsafiudtuArtotgoemneeyraGteinoenrsaalnMdatriksHreercroirndg-soefttthiengCsoemtmeomnewnetalsthhowosf Vtihragtinwiae. ta"kWeeohuavreesapnorosbilbiiglattieosn seriously. This settement wil alow us to protect and enhance ands though the Shenandoah Valley and improve the qualtyofwatr for widife, angers, paddlers and others who use these waterwaysfo recreation. | really appreciate the hard work hatmy eam, Governor Terry McAulife, Secretary Molly Ward, DEQ and our federal pariners putinto making tis historic setement a realty." Mercury released into the South River from the DuPort faclty nthe 1930s and 1940s continues to persist i the environment. Monitoring data collected overthe last 20 years indicates that mercury loves remain table, with no lear decreasesover time. Federal law seeks to make the environment and public whole for juris to natural resources and ecological and recreational services resulting rom a release of hazardous substances to the environment. "The ruses evaluated a range of restoration lematves and have ulimately proposed a preferrd restoration raletseorunracteisve. tPhartopinocsleuddepsropjreocjtesctisnctlhuadteb:est meet the requirement that restoration efforts specifically focus on the injured + ilamnpdropvroetmeecnttisontopwraotpeerqyuaaclqtuyisiatnidonf,isIhmhparboivteatmetnhtrosutgohraeccreeatisonaslucophpaorstsutnirteiaemssiadnedpwlianftienghsaabnldaerroesstioornation control, as wel as stormwater pond mprovemenis + smiunscsteulropropagation and restoration to improve water quality, stabilize sediment and enhance stream bottom + + rFercornetatRiooynaall iFisshhinHgaatcchceersysrcerneoavtaitonioonrsitmopirmopvreomveenptroductionofwarm-water fish such as smallmouth bass + migratory songbird habitat restoration and protection "The drat RP/EA outlines these proposed project, as wel as other restoration afematives and an evaluationof juries tothe natural resources. I i available online, along with other Information on the process, at wgwovwifnwosr.theastivirginiafield/newsinehwtsml.. "The ruses will host a public meeting to summarize key componentsofthe drat restoration plan and answer qruoeosmtfioonsm. 6T:h0e0 PpuMblti me8e:3t0 iPnMg. wiTlhlebebhrealrdyonis Jlaonc.at1e0d, a2t061070, atthe Waynesboro 5. Wayne Avenue, Public Library lower level meeting Waynesboro, Virginia, 22980. Following the comment priod, the ruses wil review and consider comments and prepare the final RP/EA. Uttimatel, the trustees will work with project partners such as local state, and federal agencies: nonprofit organizations; and landownersto implement he projects Today's setemen lodged with the U.S. Distict ourt for the Wesiem Distict ofVirgil, Is subject to a 45-day public comment period to begin following notification in the Federal Register. The settlement is subject to final approval by the court. To view the consent decree, visit the department's website: wqwowvijuestnirced.iconsent.decrees. TEonpvlier(osn)m:ent Component(s): Envi andr Natuo raln Resm ource es Dn ivist ion Pross Release Number: 161476 3637.0002